Sounding device for locating shallows and holes in a lake bottom



Feb. 23, 1954 RYDZEWSKl 2,669,785

SOUNDING DEVICE FOR LOCATING SHALLOWS AND HOLES IN A LAKE BOTTOM 3Sheets-She Filed Aug. 9, 1948 INVENTOR. 6502a: .5. B aze-wax ArrQEA/E v!ma,wrm

Feb. 23,1954

Filed Aug. 9, 1948 G. S. RYDZEWSKI SOUNDING DEVICE FOR LOCATING SHALLOWSAND HOLES IN A LAKE BOTTOM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 my m'oz Genes: 5. Evpzewsr/Feb. 23, 1954 G. s. RYDZEWSKI 2,669,785 SOUNDING DEVICE FOR LOCATINGSHALLOWS AND HOLES IN A LAKE BOTTOM Filed Aug. 9, 1948 3 Sheets-SheetINVEN TOR. Gem 5. FYpze-wsm ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE SOUNDING DEVICE FOR LOCA'IING SHAL- LOWS AND HOLESIN A LAKE BOTTOM George S. Rydzewski, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application August 9, 1948, Serial No. 43,239

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a sounding device for locating shallows andholes in a lake bottom.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a simple andinexpensive means for enabling a fisherman to locate the mostadvantageous place to fish. However, the device has other utility and,with simple modifications as hereinafter explained, it is adapted tofunction in water of practically any moderate depth.

' More specifically it is a primary object of the invention to providemeans which will function accurately regardless of the loading orerratic movement of the boat with which it is used; and to provide adevice which is preferably selfadjusting to the upright position inwhich it is adapted for use.

It is a further important object of the invention to provide a devicewhich, in its preferred embodiment, uses the line itself as an indicatoror pointer movable across a scale which, with reference to theangularity assumed by the line at the moment, is calibrated to give adirect reading of the depth of the water in feet.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following disclosurethereof in which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation showing a deviceembodying the invention as applied to the transom of a boat which isillustrated in section.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation showing the device as it appears whencollapsed for storage.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the calibrated scale arm as it appears detachedfrom the collapsed device shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view in perspective showing the end ofthe reel mounting arm.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a modified embodiment ofthe invention.

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective showing a further modified embodiment ofthe invention.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view largely in side elevationbut partially in section vertically through the device of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a view on an enlarged scale showing in perspective a furthermodified embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a view in side elevation of a modified embodiment of theinvention used in connection with a casting rod which provides supporttherefor.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail view in perspective on an enlarged scaleshowing the embodiment of Fig. 10 as it appears suspended from the endof a casting rod or other suitable support.

Fig. 12 is a view in perspective showing a. further slightly modifiedembodiment of the invention.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 showing on reduced scale a furthermodification.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 1 comprises a substantially conventionalC-clamp l6 which is attached to the gunwale II or other convenient pointon the boat used in taking the soundings.

Pivoted by means of pintle bolt [2 to the clamp is is a reel mountingarm 13 which comprises a channel It having laterally projecting flanges15 and a bottom web l6 which terminates short of the end of the channelto provide a shoulder at ll engageable with the clamp Ill as a stop tolimit the pivotal movement of arm l3 at an angle at which the armprojects upwardly and rearwardly as shown in Fig. l. The sides of thechannel project rearwardly beyond the shoulder ii to provide ears withwhich the pintle bolt I2 is engaged, the detail of these ears being bestshown in Fig. 4.

Slidably mounted upon the outwardly turned flanges l5 are the clampingclips I 8, l9, these being used to anchor the base 20 of a conventionalreel 2| on arm l3.

At the end of arm I3, I provide an insert 22 in the channel M, suchinsert preferably projecting beyond the channel and having a rounded andgrooved extremity 23 for guiding the line 25 drawn from the reel. Theinsert has a transverse bore at 26 aligned with openings in the channelto receive the eye 21 of a supporting wire or rod 28 which serves as alink for the suspension of a gauge unit which comprises a bar 29, weight30 and gauge arm 3|. The gauge arm has a terminal slot at 32 whichreceives a bolt 33 projecting downwardly from the beveled surface 34 ofweight 30. A wing nut 35 threaded to this bolt clamps the lower end ofarm 31 to the surface 34 to hold the arm at precisely the correct upwardinclination. The bar 29 is preferably tubular and constricted at 3B forengagement with the head 31 on link 28, thereby permitting the link 28to be collapsed within the tubular bar 29 when the apparatus is to bestored. For storage purposes, the reel mounting arm 13 collapses uponthe pintle bolt I2 of clamp It to the position shown in Fig. 2 and theweight 30, pref-j erably having the shape of a horseshoe, receives aportion of the clamp ill to nest securely thereabout in a positionpermitted by the collapse of the link 28 within groove 29.

When the device is in use, the weight 30 is Q A "1| ndthereeljl. V

In'the modification shbwh Fig. e, the arm 1 the gauge arm 3| is atprecisely the correct angle for which its calibrations are determined.The calibrations also are based upon a predetermined length of line 25which may, for example, be twenty-four feet. The arm 3| has at 40 anelongated slot through which the line 25 extends, the line 25 preferablyincluding at its extreme end a sinker 4|. Y

When the boat is operated by bars, or by drifting before the wind, orotherwise to drag the Weight 4| upon the bottom of the waterway, theangle of the line 25 with respect to the calibra tions on the arm 3|will automatically indicate in feet the depth of the waterway, Thus,with the line assuming the angle indicated in Fig. 1, it will passthrough the slot 40 in the gauge arm 3| approximately at the pointindicated at a" in Fig. 3, and the operator will know, from the accompanying calibration opposite the position of the line, that the waterabove the weight or 31' has a depth of about sixteen feet.

If the the mags yer't-icall-y downward-1y through the bottom of the slotit, and is twentyfdur ft in length from the guide, the depth of waterwill be twenty four feet or more (min s the heig of the gameacove waterlevel, stations being marked "toallow for this new, as long asthelinkage 28, 2'9 is brat res-st while tiie aim s1 is held at lie forwhich designed; there will be in relationship between the angle of theand the ca bratibhs bn the arm so that the 13 for thesupportof gen '21 rissues-a1 with metal-readyassented. Tne l'inltZtli is suspendr rer "fromthe upper nd by the weight size thero'fa t w bd r v dial 316 beencalibrated, The d'i'sl; may con"- 'Vnientl'y be "situate-3i 'b'n'th elink 2% by 01rtin g, apair OLsti' p o de'eirs through plate 310. A's e'r43 isfpix'go' d"to the calibrated plate 3ft an a paint it, At its date;end, the pointer is is fineness "with an eye at at through "which theline is thi'e ed. The tension on the line it an; be Teen, guide 2'3 ansthe at the bottom the lake and "st controls the positionof the po nteras r di'ngto the angle of the line that the tip at or the pciiriterwi11prspsriy asset with the animated scale In plate indicate at alltimes the exact depth or g'ht "member 'at has "a finger A enes .bs 2. ere y the clamp- Bivoted to the top of the member 48 on a pintle posit onfor which "the calibrated bracket arm at 55 supporting a plumb bob 56which can be set to register with an indicating point 51 at the top of apintle rod 58 upon which the gauge arm 3H) is swiveled, preferably bymeans of a bushing at 55. The gauge arm preferably comprises a singlestrap bent upon itself at its outer end at 5|), the ends extendingthence in parallelism and connected to opposite sides of the bushing 59.The space between the two sides of the strap comprising arm 3H3constitutes a slot at 560 through which the line 25 extends and thecalibrations on one or both sides of the arm 3H} give a reading directlyopposite the line it'- self to indicat'e ac'curately the depth of thewater over the sinker t I.

The reel mounting. arm |3|| is desirably provided with integral upwardlystruck fingers. at 5| and 62 upon which the line may be wound if a reelis not used. According y. the device of Fig. 9 differs from that of Fig.8 only in that the line is wound about the fingers 2|, 52 instead ofbeing wound upon a'reel.

Fig. 10 and Fig. 11. show a modified embodiment of the invention andalso illustrate the fact that an ordinary basting rod may be used toprovide support. Such a rod is shown at M, but

it is to be understood that there is nothing about the embodiment shownFigs. 10 and 1 1 which requires that it beu'sed exclusively with acasting red. A sw ive'l coupling such as "is frequently usedt'o connecta fishing bait to a line may be employed at 3H for connection with-the"guide fitting 231 at the end of the rod to'su-pport the link -28|whereby weight 3%! is suspended. Piv'cted to the weight upon pintl'e 65is the slotted. scale arm 3H suitably calibrated with indications of"depth, "the line 25 "extending from the guide 231 at the end *of therod through th'e' slot 4M er the 'scaleai m tor direct indication, withreference to the calibrations, of the depth of "the water according tothe angle 'of the'lin'e.

In order that the device may beaccurate whiie in use, and maynevertheless be collapsed for storage, the pivotal movement of thecalibrated arm -31| with respect to "the weight is limited by one ormore stops 6t which'define its operative position. For storage, the armmay be swung upward-1y to 'e'mbrace'the link 2st.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 12, a si lilar swivel connector is usedat 312 to support a 'bifurcated link 282 which is engaged with the pins61 for pivotal connection with the weight 4302. In this instance, theweight moves bodily with the calibrated am 312 to an operative positionwhich isdim-ited by the yoke portion 283 of the suspension link 2-82. Inuse, the line 25 extends through the slot 492 which, for the purposes-01 this disclosure, -may be open at the top to facilitate theintroduction and removal of the line. For storagethe arm 3 l2 iolds upagainst the-bifurcated suspending link 282.

V In the construction shown in Fig. 13, the suspension link comprises ;apiece of cordorfline 28 t carried from the swivel connector 313. Theweight 302 and the arm -3-|=2 are unitary, exactly as in theconstruction of Fig. 12. The proper positioning of the parts is assuredby the connection of the part 284 to an eye 68 which is at one side ofthe weight and at one side of the slot 402 and an eye 69 which is at aremote point of the arm and to the other side of the slot in the arm andalso securing it at an intermediate point of the connector 313 so thatthe suspended unit comprising the weight and the arm wil1 always hang ata predetermined angle, leaving the slot 402 open to receive the linewhich, according to its angle will afford a reading of the depth of thewater by its position with reference to the calibrated scale carried bythe arm. This device is collapsible for transportation because of thefact that the suspending cord 284 is entirely flexible and, whenrelieved of weight, collapses against the arm. All of the devices shownon sheet 3 of the drawings are of the pendulum type and each isespecially designed to collapse into small space for transportation,while nevertheless providing for a predetermined angle of the calibratedarm in order that the reading of the line against the calibrations maybe correct. It is understood, in each instance, that the particularcalibrations may be varied according to the predetermined length of lineemployed.

In all forms of my invention, the device automatically allows for drift,the gauge arm automatically accommodating itself, under tension of theline, to the plane in which the line is disposed. However, in the deviceshown in Figs. 7 to 9, there is no automatic compensation for variationsin boat loading or for changes in boat angle resulting from waves.

In all forms of the invention, it will be apparent that where theaverage depth of water is greater or less than that for which the deviceis shown, the device is readily adapted either by recalibrating thegauge arm or by applying thereto a multiplying factor which isproportioned to the change in length of the line and which may be eithera multiple thereof or a fraction thereof. For example, if forty-eightfeet of line is payed out, the depth figures on the gauge arm would haveto be correspondingly multiplied by two. If three times the line ispayed out, the depth figures would be multiplied by three. If half theline is payed out, the depth figures would be divided by two.

Since it is well known that certain fish are to be found at certaintimes on shoals and at other times in holes, the device herein disclosedenables a fisherman to carry a device which is readily collapsible fortransportation in his tackle box and readily set up for use to enablethe fisherman accurately to chart the depth and shallows.

I claim:

1. A sounding device adapted to indicate the depth of a body of waterover the bottom of which a weight is dragged at the end of a line ofpredetermined length, said device comprising the combination with saidline and weight, of a depth indicator comprising a. pendulum including asupport, a weight and an arm upwardly oblique respecting the support,said arm being provided with a scale calibrated in a fixed relationshipto the length of the line and means along said scale for the guidance ofthe line as the weight is dragged over the bottom whereby the lineindicates directly on the scale the depth of the weight beneath thesurface of the water, the combined weight of the arm and weight coactingto hold said pendulum on a line of plumb whereby the arm is held at afixed angle to the line of plumb.

2. A device of the character described comprising the combination with asupport, of a telescopically collapsible link having portions inswiveled connection, one of said portions having a pendulum connectionwith said support and the other of said link portions being providedwith a weight, together with a slotted arm connected with the weightedportion of said link and ex-' tending obliquely upwardly and rearwardlythere from and provided with calibrations along its slot whereby aweighted line extending rearwardly and downwardly from said supportthrough said slot will directly coact with said calibrations to providea reading of depth.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said weight is beveled and providedwith a clamping bolt, said arm having a portion clamped on said bolt tosaid weight.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which said support isprovided with a line hold ing means.

5. A device of the character described com prising a pendulum having asupport portion and a freely swinging weighted portion suspended fromsaid support and held substantially plumb by force of gravity, acalibrated arm mounted on said weighted portion and extending at anangle to the line of plumb, said arm being provided with a guide slot,and a weighted line extending from said support portion to said slot andcoacting directly with the calibrations of said arm to give a reading ofdepth.

6. The device of claim 5 in which said pendulum comprises a connectionwith said support on which it may swivel in a horizontal plane.

'7. The device of claim 5 in which said swinging portion and said armare provided with adjustable coupling means whereby the position of thearm with respect to said swinging portion may be adjusted.

8. The device of claim 5 in which said pendulum comprises a flexiblesuspension member and a weight rigid with said arm, said member beingconnected to said weight at one side of the slot of said arm and to aremote point on the arm at the other side of said slot.

9. The device of claim 7 in which the coupling comprises a pivot uponwhich the arm is swingable with respect to said swinging portion.

10. A device of the character described comprising the combination witha support, of a collapsible link having portions in swiveled connection, one of said portions having a pendulum connection with saidsupport, together with a slotted arm and a weight connected with theother of said link portions, said slotted arm extending obliquelyupwardly and rearwardly from said connection and provided withcalibrations along its slot whereby a weighted line extending rearwardlyand downwardly from said support through said slot will directly coactwith said calibrations to provide a reading of depth.

11. A device of the character described comprising the eombination witha support, of a pendulum having a weight, a member suspending saidweight from said support for free swinging movement, a slotted arm andmeans mounting said arm in a position upwardly oblique with respect tothe said member, said arm being disposed at one side of the axis onwhich the member is disposed and the weight being disposed on the otherside of said axis whereby the weight and arm combine to define thecenter of gravity ae'aorzea of the pendulum, said arm" being providedwith calibrations along its slot and the line having a: fixed length,said calibrations being terms of said fixed lengthwherebysaid line.directly in'dieatesia readingof depth on'said scale.

12..A sounding device comprising the. combination'with asupport and alineof predetermined length provided with a sounding weight atone endand connectedtothesupport-sat its other end, of a: slotted arm havingmeans suspendin it; from saidsupnort and extending obliquelyupwardlyvand rearwardly acrossthe pathzof said line andiprovided besideits slot with ascale calibrated infixed relation to the length of theline to be indicative of depth, said suspending means comprising anupright pivot, said arm being providedwith means on which the arm is.swiveled for rotation upon said pivot, said line passing throughsaidslot and constitutin an indicator coacting directly with thecalibrationsof said arm for indicating depth and also servingv'by its tension tomaintain the arm in an angular position of adjustment respecting saidpivot means to lie substantially in a vertical plane in which said lineis disposed, said slotted arm and suspending means comprising a pendulum8 acted on by'gravity iorautomatic bias toaipiumb position inwhich'the'arm is disposed at. a fixed angle with respectitorthe line orplumb, said pendulum'further comprising aweight at the, opposite side'ofthe. line of plumb from. said arm whereby to counterbalance saidarmiandqdeflne with:said=. armthe center oigravity or the nem dulum. qGEORGE-S. RYDZEWSKI.

Refarenc s Ci d in the fil o th s patent,

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date- "486,782. Hunter Novl22, 1892555389 Aubert --i--Y- 1! 3, 1 96 "7511523 Farr Feb. 9 17904 1,398,853Ginzbourg NOV. 29,, 1 921 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 24,347Great Britain Oct. 21, 1891 4,809 Great Britain Mar.' 6, 1901 16,316Great Britain Now-19, 1915 581,258 France i Apr. 30,- 1924

